In the context of current events as of March 1, 2026, "Decree No. 12" refers to the Taliban's newly enacted Criminal Procedural Regulations for Courts (or Penal Code).
Signed by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in January 2026 and recently shared for full implementation, it has drawn international condemnation for formalizing extreme gender discrimination and stripping legal protections.
The decree is particularly infamous for setting lighter punishments for harming women than for harming animals or "nobles."
Key Provisions of Decree No. 12
* Legalized Domestic Violence: A husband is only criminally liable for violence against his wife if he causes "severe and visible" physical injuries (like bone fractures or open wounds). Even in those cases, the maximum sentence is 15 days in prison.
* Animal Cruelty Comparison: By contrast, the same decree mandates up to five months in prison for mistreating a camel or organizing animal fights (like dog or ram fighting).
* Caste System: The decree establishes a hierarchical social structure (Scholars, Nobles, Middle Class, and "Lower Classes"). Punishments vary based on social status—for instance, a "noble" might receive a mere warning for a crime that would result in corporal punishment for a member of the lower class.
* Criminalization of Movement: Women can be sentenced to three months in prison for visiting a relative's home without their husband's permission.
* Silence and Subjugation: It formalizes the ban on women’s voices being heard in public (singing or reading aloud) and mandates that they remain fully covered at all times.
* Vigilante Authority: The decree empowers any "Muslim who witnesses a sin" to impose on-the-spot corrective punishment to "prevent vice," essentially legalizing vigilante violence.
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